Downtown Bank of America branch will close

Bank of America’s South Front Street branch office will close its doors on May 31.

Bill Hand/Sun Journal

By Eddie Fitzgerald, Sun Journal Staff

Published: Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 04:40 PM.

Bank of America’s branch on South Front Street in New Bern plans to close at the end of May.

The Charlotte-based bank is trending down the number of its assets as more people rely on technology to do their banking.

Nicole Nastacie, spokesperson for Bank of America, said after careful consideration a decision was made to close the Ipock Center branch including the drive through on May 31.

“Customer letters were recently mailed to give them ample time to become familiar with another location, including our Twin Rivers location which is less than 3 miles away,” Nastacie said in an email. “This decision is driven primarily by a decline in transactions, as customers increasingly rely on other channels including mobile and online banking. However, we expect minimal impact given the proximity of another location.”

Bank of America has another New Bern branch on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Nastacie said Bank of America does not disclose the number of employees at its banking centers.

“When a banking center closes, we provide various forms of assistance to impacted employees, including helping them find other opportunities within the company,” she said.

Bank of America’s branch on South Front Street in New Bern plans to close at the end of May.

The Charlotte-based bank is trending down the number of its assets as more people rely on technology to do their banking.

Nicole Nastacie, spokesperson for Bank of America, said after careful consideration a decision was made to close the Ipock Center branch including the drive through on May 31.

“Customer letters were recently mailed to give them ample time to become familiar with another location, including our Twin Rivers location which is less than 3 miles away,” Nastacie said in an email. “This decision is driven primarily by a decline in transactions, as customers increasingly rely on other channels including mobile and online banking. However, we expect minimal impact given the proximity of another location.”

Bank of America has another New Bern branch on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Nastacie said Bank of America does not disclose the number of employees at its banking centers.

“When a banking center closes, we provide various forms of assistance to impacted employees, including helping them find other opportunities within the company,” she said.

Nastacie said the number of banking centers in Bank of America’s nationwide network will be decreased during next few years.

The property at 412 South Front St. is leased by Bank of America, Nastacie said.

Mike Fahy, who was walking by the branch bank Thursday, said he was surprised it was going to close.

“I think it will be rough for the downtown,” Fahy said. “A lot of people use this bank. The drive through is busy all the time.”

Fahy said he remembered when the property where the Bank of America is located used to be a Joe Alcoke car lot until the mid 1980s and then the Bank of New Bern moved into a new building on the lot followed by NCNB before Bank of America.

Fahy, who is not a client of Bank of America, said many people from town used the bank.

“They had a ton of customers,” he said. “I hate to see it.”

Astrid Schlegel, who has been a client of the bank for six years, said she received a letter that it was closing. She said it would be a little inconvenient for her.

“But it won’t be that terrible,” she said. “I’ll just go to the other branch. It’s not a problem. But I just like the people more here. I think they are a lot nicer here than the other branch. They are wonderful, sweet people.”

Schlegel said they all know her by name.

“I’ll miss them,” she said.

Eddie Fitzgerald can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at eddie.fitzgerald@newbernsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @staffwriter3.